SFGN 5/11/23 V14iss19

HOPE GENERATION

PRISM HOSTS GALA COMMEMORATING 3 YEARS HELPING LGBT YOUTH

INTRODUCING THE NORM KENT LGBT NEWSMAKER FUND

Our Fund Foundation launched the Norm Kent LGBTQ Newsmaker Fund in the longtime attorney’s memory.

“It is especially meaningful for The Our Fund Foundation to hold the Norm Kent LGBTQ Newsmaker Fund because Norm’s values and hopes for South Florida align with ours. He was a force for good in our region, and we hope to follow in his path.”

Kent was the publisher of South Florida Gay News and before that the Express Gay News in the early 2000s. He was a passionate defender of the First Amendment.

Kent died April 13. He was 73. Here’s an excerpt from the SFGN obituary.

In 1999, Kent took on a new title: newspaper publisher. He launched the Express Gay News, which covered all aspects of queer life in South Florida.

Kent sold the paper four years later to Window Media, a national LGBT media group that renamed it the South Florida Blade. Window Media went bankrupt in November 2009 and quickly shut down the Blade. Most of the staff of the Blade reorganized and launched the Florida Agenda, which shut down in 2016.

In January of 2010 Kent launched a new newspaper and website called South Florida Gay News, along with a new business partner Piero Guidugli, who stayed with the company until 2020.

Celebrating 400 issues of SFGN in 2018, Kent and Guidugli highlighted a few of their most compelling stories, including:

– A five-year long program of entrapment by two West Palm Beach policemen who had entrapped more than 300 men.

– Hollywood police fired officer Mikey Verdugo in 2010 after the department learned he had appeared in a 15-minute gay porn

scene 14 years earlier. (Verdugo now owns Bodytek Fitness in Davie and Wilton Manors.)

– The 2010 firing of licensed practical nurse Ray Fetcho AKA drag queen Tiny Tina, when it came out that 35 years earlier Fetcho had been charged with a lewd act for hosting a wet jockey shorts contest at the old Copa nightclub in Fort Lauderdale. (Fetcho died at 68 of cancer and diabetes in 2015.)

In 2016, Kent wrote in a publisher’s column about the last of the big gay bar raids in Broward County, when in 1991 then-Sheriff Nick Navarro created a media spectacle arresting men at the Copa and at Club 21 in Hallandale Beach.

“Sheriff Navarro orchestrated the raid as if he were hosting a Hollywood opening,” Kent wrote. “As the news report by Steve Rothaus indicates, the Sheriff turned the

raid into a media event, placing the entire LGBT community in a false light. Navarro arrived on the scene, believe it or not, in a helicopter, accompanied by his wife, dressed in an evening gown. Reporters were shocked by the crass celebration, amazingly accompanied by foreign Russian dignitaries to show off for.”

Kent said he never regretted publishing a story, even if it got him into hot water with local power figures, including activists and elected officials.

“It’s the newspaper. It’s what editorial cartoons are all about,” he said. “It’s not for the politician to be thin skinned. It’s for the politician to go naked before the canon and accept the fact that he, too, can be criticized no matter how good they think they

May 11, 2023 • Volume 14 • Issue 19 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

Publisher/Editor • Jason Parsley

Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com

Associate Publisher • Justin Wyse Justin@sfgn.com

Editorial

Assistant to the Editor • Kimberly Swan Webmaster@sfgn.com

Social Media Director • Christiana Lilly

Graphic Designers • Julie Palmer Kyle Willis • Craig Tuggle Design Consultant • Brendon Lies Artwork@sfgn.com

Arts/Entertainment Editor • J.W. Arnold JW@prdconline.com

Food/Travel Editor • Rick Karlin Community Editor • John Hayden john.jmhcreative@gmail.com

Senior Photographer • J.R. Davis JRDavis12000@hotmail.com

Senior Feature Columnists

Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo

Special to SFGN Steve Rothaus

Correspondents

John McDonald • Sean Conklin • Deon Jefferson

David-Elijah Nahmod • Aurora Dominguez

Denise Royal • Austen Erblat • Kennedy McKinney

Mary Rasura • Christian Walden • Christopher Flores

Contributing Columnists

Pier Angelo • Terri Schlichenmeyer Gregg Shapiro • Dana Rudolph

Associate Photographers Carina Mask • Steven Shires Sales & Marketing

For ad placement in SFGN, contact 954-530-4970

Director Justin Wyse Justin@sfgn.com

Senior Advertising Associate Edwin Neimann Edwin@sfgn.com

Distribution Services

Richie Wilson & Johnathan Rey National Advertising Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com

Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping Printing by Stuart Web Inc.

Co-Founders

Norm Kent • Pier Angelo

SOUTH FLORIDA GAY NEWS.COM, INC.

FOUNDED, DECEMBER, 2009 BY PIER GUIDUGLI AND NORM KENT

All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, Jason Parsley at Jason.Parsley@SFGN.com. SFGN is owned by Norm Kent and represented legally by Russell Cormican. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. Copyright © 2023 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

SFGN Staff

SFGN co-founder Norm Kent. Courtesy photo.

DRAG RACE ALL STARS 8' CAST IS RED CARPET READY

Photo by J.R. Davis

Brock Boyd, vice president of The Bears of South Florida, and Kely Van Eaton, vice president of community relations for the Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida at Hunters for the GMCSF and Bears SF Sing-A-Long.

MONTANA

JUDGE RULES TRANS LEGISLATOR CAN’T RETURN TO HOUSE FLOOR

According to AP News, District Court Judge Mike Menahan ruled on May 2 that Rep. Zooey Zephyr was not permitted to return to the Montana House floor. The trans legislator was censured after telling her colleagues they would have blood on their hands if they voted in favor of a bill restricting gender-affirming care for minors. Menahan stated that it was outside of his scope to allow Zephyr to return to the floor.

“Plaintiffs’ requested relief would require this Court to interfere with legislative authority in a manner that exceeds this Court’s authority,” Menahan wrote.

Zephyr responded to his decision.

“It’s a really sad day for the country when the majority party can silence representation from the minority party whenever they take issue,” Zephyr told AP News.

TEXAS

LGBT PROTESTERS BOOTED FROM STATE CAPITOL

According to The Texas Tribune, protesters advocating for trans rights at the Texas Capitol were removed by police on May 2. Texas Speaker Dade Phelan cleared the gallery. State police handcuffed two people.

“Rules matter in the TX House,” said Phelan in a tweet. “Today’s outbursts in the gallery were a breach of decorum and continued after I warned that such behaviors would not be tolerated. There will always be differing perspectives, but in our chamber, we will debate those differences with respect.”

Landon Richie, a transgender man and policy associate with the Transgender Education Network of Texas, disagrees with the move.

“It’s a real act of cowardice,”

Richie said. “They don’t want to face accountability for their actions. They don’t want to face the people that this legislation is going to harm.”

IOWA

STUDENTS PROTEST ANTI-LGBT BILLS DURING AWARDS CEREMONY

According to The Des Moines Register, Iowa high school students protested during an awards ceremony on April 30. One of these students was Clementine Springsteen, a transgender woman, who accepted her award wearing the colors of the transgender flag.

“Trans rights are human rights,” Springsteen said, after shaking the hands of Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg.

Miran Pettigrew and Leo Friedman were students who protested for education rights, with Pettigrew wearing a shirt that read “Public Money for Public Schools.” Friedman’s shirt read “I Read Banned Books.”

The protests come after Iowa banned gender-affirming care for minors, as

well as passing an education bill that will simplify the process to ban books and enact restrictions on LGBT education in schools.

Clementine Springsteen. Photo via idesofclem, Instagram.

Rep. Zooey Zephyr. Photo via Facebook.

Landon Richie, one of the protesters removed from the Texas Capital. Photo via landon richie, Instagram.

AUSTRALIA SOUTH KOREA

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT URGED TO ACT AS MORE DRAG EVENTS ARE CANCELED

Advocates in the LGBT community are asking the Victorian government in Melbourne to do more to protect their community after threats led to the cancellation of five drag events in the past six months.

The threats are coming from farright groups and have not only targeted drag events but other ceremonies for the queer community. Victorian Pride Lobby’s Sean Mulcahy told The Guardian police, councils and the state government needed to do more to protect the queer community from threats and make sure family-friendly events could be held.

“If we had stronger anti-vilification laws, if police were willing to enforce the laws that they have, and if councils worked to ensure that their local laws were enforced, then we will be able to

deal with these issues early on,” Mulcahy said.

IRELAND

Kristian Nairn, best known for his role as Hodor in HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” revealed that he was present at the 1997 gay club shooting in Belfast.

Nairn spoke about the shooting for the first time on BBC's Blood on the Dance Floor Podcast.

The victim, 24-year-old police officer Darren Bradshaw, was shot and killed at the club, which was the city’s only LGBT venue at the time. To this day, the case remains unsolved.

Nairn said he and his friends had just arrived at the club when the shooting happened.

“It happened so fast. It was just like stunned silence, just like a bomb had gone off,” he said.

THERE’S

South Korea’s largest annual LGBT festival, the Seoul Queer Culture Festival, has been blocked from being held outside of city hall by Seoul’s city government. According to Reuters, the government granted a permit to a Christian Youth Concert instead.

The event has been held in front of city hall since 2015 and has been a symbol of the battle of queer rights in a country where same-sex marriage is not recognized.

The chief organizer of the event Yang Sun-woo said the city’s act is an act of discrimination.

“Each year, we struggle to secure a venue to hold the event,” said Sun-woo.

PRESIDENT ATTACKS QUEER COMMUNITY DURING SPEECH

Kristian Nairn. Photo via Facebook.

Victorian Pride Lobby’s Sean Mulcahy. Photo via Twitter.

BY KENNEDY MCKINNEY

EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

PRISM BENEFIT HELPS LGBT YOUTH

At a time when governments are silencing discussions about LGBT and cutting off youth from any education to help them define and figure out who they are, PRISM is stepping in to fill the gap. The organization, dedicated to helping LGBT youth learn about healthcare and make connections, celebrated three years of work with its PRISMversary gala.

The cocktail hour and dinner event were held May 6 at the Center for Spiritual Living in Oakland Park. About 70 supporters, volunteers, and PRISM members packed the main hall to celebrate their accomplishments and plan for the difficult work that lies ahead.

“We are ready to expand into a new era,” PRISM Vice President CJ Walden said. “Having more employees, bringing out our programs to be something more and better to serve the community.”

The night saw several community activists honored. Mary EakinsDurand was given the Youth Allyship Award. Lola Torres accepted the Youth Volunteer Award while Javier Gomez received the Youth Leadership Award. All three have been vocal and active in the fight for LGBT youth.

“Our PRISMVersary showed what we already knew: when our community shows up for young people, young people deliver,” PRISM founder Maxx Fenning said. “We are so proud of what we’ve done over the past three years, and the funds we raised at this event will help expand the critical work we

do by and for queer youth here in South Florida.”

Fenning delivered a fiery speech, saying the future of LGBT rights lies in the next generation of leaders and called for everyone in the room to support their movement and, by extension, the future.

The night was a family affair. Fenning’s mother and grandfather were in the audience, while Walden’s mom, Michelle, was behind the bar mixing cocktails with a smile.

“My son’s my life,” she gushed while making drinks. “PRISM has helped him be who he is. The support and network, and helping others, becomes a snowball effect. That’s what PRISM tries to do: help others feel comfortable in their own skin.”

Among activists in the room was Tom Lander, chairman of the board for Safe Schools. Both organizations focus their work on youth and Lander says Safe Schools is proud to support.

“To see young leaders that are youth leaders. Not the adults, but the youth. To support the work they do is to bring us to better places.”

John Hayden

Maxx Fenning. Photo by Carina Mask.

“WE ARE READY TO EXPAND INTO A NEW ERA. HAVING MORE EMPLOYEES, BRINGING OUT OUR PROGRAMS TO BE SOMETHING MORE AND BETTER TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.”

- CJ Walden PRISM VICE PRESIDENT

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE PRISMVERSARY GALA, VISIT SFGN ON FACEBOOK

Photos by Carina Mask

WILTON MANORS CAVES TO DESANTIS OVER DRAG SHOWS

John Hayden

Drag queens and other performers who work up and down Wilton Drive, filed into the city commission chamber at Wilton Manors City Hall. They, along with other citizens, stood up and spoke out, urging commissioners to stand with them against the tyranny of Tallahassee.

In the end, the panel sympathized, empathized, and voted against them.

The issue was amending the permit for Stonewall Pride Inc. to force compliance of a new law that expands the definition of “live adult entertainment” to include drag entertainment. The new permit language reads: “Organization responsibilities to Include language regarding a possible new state law pursuant to SB 1438 and HB 1423 (Florida 2023). These bills, which are anticipated to become law, prohibit performances in violation of section 827.11. Florida Statutes.”

The law is still being analyzed, but it likely means no public performances by drag queens.

Queens play an integral part in Stonewall and most prides throughout the world. They host parades and stages as well as perform. It appears that will not be the case at next month’s event.

“We may be constrained by the narrowest interpretation of the law today but that does not dissuade us from our long-term fight against injustice against our community,” Jeff Stirling, CEO of Stonewall Pride Inc., told SFGN exclusively.

‘OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT SAFE’

Before the vote, more than a dozen people got up to speak against the law and the city’s acquiescence.

“The laws are just unjust,” said one speaker representing Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar. “We are entertainers. We are emcees. We are comedians in our culture, not criminals.”

Coco Lords sat near the front in full regalia representing the drag community.

“I’m here to make sure we are heard and are seen,” she said. “To show that we are one community and we have to represent each other and stand up for each other.”

Michael Rajner, chair of Broward County’s Human Rights Board, said, “We are not safe in Florida, but we stay here. Some of us are going to stay here and fight. We hope we

ANDREW GILLUM BEATS RAP ON LYING TO FEDS

John McDonald

Andrew Gillum, the ex-Tallahassee mayor and former CNN analyst, who came within a whisker of becoming Florida governor, was acquitted of lying to the FBI on May 4.

A federal jury in the Northern District of Florida found Gillum, 43, not guilty of lying to the FBI. The jury deadlocked on 18 other charges against Gillum, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial, attorneys said.

Speaking to reporters outside of the courthouse with his wife, R. Jai, by his side, Gillum said he was grateful for “second chances” and relieved by the verdict, while also calling for reforms to the system.

have enough Democrats that are registered that will vote and we can start stemming that tide.”

NO GOOD CHOICES

The city had few choices and none of them were good. To take a principled stand and blatantly allow the law to be broken with the city’s permission could result in political upheaval in the city.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has the right to remove elected and appointed officials if he deems they are not enforcing state laws. It is possible the entire city commission and other positions could be filled with lackeys who would blindly do the governor’s bidding.

Before the vote, Mayor Scott Newton said people marginalized by the law are still welcome to be part of the event.

“We’re proud to have drag queens and the transgender community come and walk and ride in floats down Wilton Drive. And that’s not going to change, not on our watch.”

The permit language puts the onus on Stirling, who says decisions are still being made about who will be allowed in the parade. He is open to the idea of a float or delegation of drag entertainers, since that is not a performance. In the end he wants Stonewall and the city to live to fight another day.

“There are no good answers. We’re trying to get by and fight again.”

Gillum was indicted in June of 2022 on 21 felony counts. Prosecutors alleged he and co-defendant, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, committed conspiracy, wire fraud and lied to investigators between 2016 to 2019. At issue were tens of thousands of dollars meant to be campaign donations that were, allegedly,

funneled through Lettman-Hicks’ company and into their own personal bank accounts. Gillum, a Democrat, maintained from the start the indictment was politically motivated.

“They’ve quite literally tried to take everything from us,” Gillum said. “And the beauty is, in our system, the powers that be don’t always get to decide. Everyday people like you and me sometimes get our swings at the ball and today the jury took it.”

LEGISLATURE PASSES BAN ON GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR YOUTH

Christiana Lilly

Abill banning medical treatment of transgender youth — and allowing the state to take custody of them — is on its way to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk after passing the Florida Senate on May 4.

SB 254, which was introduced by FL Sen. Clay Yarborough (R), passed 26-13. It passed the House of Representatives 83-28.

The bill grants Florida courts “temporary emergency jurisdiction” for children younger than 18 who have been “subjected to or threatened with being subjected to sex reassignment prescriptions or procedures.” The state could take physical custody of the child, calling the treatment of gender dysphoria “serious physical harm.”

In addition, there are impacts on transgender adults, as the bill also prohibits use of state funds, including state insurance programs, for “sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures.” Meanwhile, this week Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed a bill requiring Medicaid to cover gender-

affirming treatment.

Should DeSantis sign the bill, it would go into effect immediately.

“Equitable access to healthcare is a basic human right, yet the passage of SB 254 further codifies and sanctions discrimination against our already marginalized transgender and gender diverse community,” Nic Zantop, the deputy director of TransInclusive, told SFGN. “In a state touted by the governor as the freest in the nation, gender identity should never be a determining factor in who deserves access to essential healthcare. Legislation can never erase trans existence.”

Andrew Gillum. Photo via Facebook.

SFGN file photo.

Photo via Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride Parade & Street Festival, Facebook.

Stonewall Pride Parade & Street Festival is scheduled for June 17 from 3-11 p.m.

LGBT SHOWDOWN

DEM JOE SAUNDERS CHALLENGES GOP FABIAN BASABE

John Hayden

Voters in Miami Beach sent an LGBT Republican, Fabian Basabe, to represent them in Tallahassee. He promised to be a moderate who would support the LGBT community and women’s healthcare. But once he arrived at the state capital, he joined his Republican colleagues and voted against the people who sent him there in the first place.

If he runs for re-election next year, he may face a Democrat who is also LGBT but also has a record of respecting the wishes of his constituents. Joe Saunders has announced he’s running for the 106th district seat in 2024. Saunders is no stranger to the area and its politics. The native South Floridian served in the State House for two years in 2013-2015.

“Floridians are facing challenges like we’ve never seen before,” he said when announcing his campaign. “This session has been one of the most devastating for LGBTQ rights in Florida’s modern history, and Republicans have effectively banned abortion – all while ignoring the skyrocketing costs of living, housing, and healthcare. This legislature is broken and we need a new one.”

The GOP has also voted to erase LGBT existence, declaring all drag entertainment as “adult,” which would effectively ban them from the public and public appearances, restricted healthcare overall and for trans people, and expanded “Don’t Say Gay.” Besabe has done nothing to stop it.

FLORIDA CONGRESS: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TO BLAME FOR WEAK US MILITARY

Christiana Lilly

The military missed its 2022 recruiting goals by 15,000 soldiers — the worst number since the draft ended in 1973 — and the Florida legislature knows what is to blame.

On May 1, Tallahassee voted to send a memorial to the U.S. Congress, citing the U.S. military’s “overemphasizing and relying on diversity and inclusion” for its drop in world dominance. Introduced by Florida Sen. Jay Collins (R), SM 1382 passed 84-24 in the House and 34-5 in the Senate.

Rep. Tommy Gregory, who is an Air Force veteran, said that in talking to his friends and family in the military, “It’s complaint after complaint of how distracted they are trying to respond to these political ideologies, this overactive political activism inside the military and it’s breaking their morale.”

stage:

• “Overemphasizing and relying on diversity and inclusion,” specifically gender, gender identity, race and sexual preference.

• Mandatory and “nonsensical” unconscious bias training for both military and civilian personnel

• Mandatory COVID-19 vaccines and denying almost all religious exemptions

The former Miami Beach socialite and nightclub fixture, who is married to a woman, has gone along with Gov. Ron DeSantis and his legislative toadies nearly every step of the way. After campaigning on less-restrictive abortion restrictions and telling CBS4 he would announce his position on the sixweek ban during floor debate, Besabe walked out and skipped the vote.

Saunders says he, and his district, have seen enough.

“Floridians are facing challenges like we’ve never seen before. The Florida GOP’s legislative supermajorities have ushered in sweeping censorship and have stripped local governments of their power to ensure fair wages, combat climate change, and enact common-sense gun safety measures that keep us and our law enforcement officers safe.”

Saunders is currently Senior Director for Equality Florida, his latest job in a 20-year career in public service. He says Besabe’s voting record, which also includes repealing gun restrictions created after the Parkland shooting and book bans, is out of step with Miami Beach.

“Free states don’t ban books and free states don’t ban communities. We deserve a Florida rich in diversity of thought, people, and experiences.”

He added, “The aircraft doesn’t respond differently because you identify as straight. The sniper’s rifle doesn’t care what your race is. It just cares how proficient you are with the weapon.”

The memorial calls on Congress to stop “such ‘woke’ social engineering and experimentation practices, which are eroding military effectiveness, and to mandate a return to merit-based system for military force development and composition.” The bill says that these policies have led to “those with the necessary warrior ethos currently serving in the United States military are more likely to leave service.”

A memorial is akin to a resolution passed by commissioners in city hall — it is not law, but rather sends a message on behalf of the legislature to a larger governing body and is not subject to veto by the governor. In this case, the memorial is being sent to the U.S. Congress.

The memorial cited four examples of ways the military has lost its prowess on the world

• Mandatory training in the U.S. Air Force Academy to use gender neutral language (an example, saying “parent” or “caregiver” instead of “mother” or “father”)

In opposition to the memorial, Florida Rep. Michele K. Rayner-Goolsby (D) said she feared the memorial was actually politicizing the goal in “making sure that there is a positive climate and culture in the military.”

Florida Rep. Ashley Viola Gantt (D) added that the memorial goes against the lived experiences of underrepresented groups in the military, including her brother, who served in the Marines for two decades. She shared that he was first called the n word during his time in the Marines and was called other racial slurs during his service.

“Does that deter from his love of the Marine Corps and his devotion? No, but it’s a very real lived experience,” she said.

Those in favor of the military repeated that skill level should trump the military’s desire to “check boxes” and that servicemembers don’t care about someone’s race or sexual orientation.

Florida Rep. Jeff Holcomb (R), a Navy veteran, was the last speaker during the debate.

“I just can’t let our military be labeled as racist and discrimination without a response. ISIS, the Taliban and al-Qaeda, those are the folks that discriminate,” he said. “We bombed a building in 2017 like we never usually do. We bombed it because they threw homosexuals off that building. Our terrorist enemies hate homosexuals more than we do. They’re the ones who discriminate.”

Photo via Pixabay.

“THE AIRCRAFT DOESN’T RESPOND DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE YOU IDENTIFY AS STRAIGHT. THE SNIPER’S RIFLE DOESN’T CARE WHAT YOUR RACE IS. IT JUST CARES HOW PROFICIENT YOU ARE WITH THE WEAPON.”

- Rep. Tommy Gregory FLORIDA STATE REP. & AIR FORCE VETERAN

Photo via Joe Saunders, Facebook.

“THIS SESSION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST DEVASTATING FOR LGBTQ RIGHTS IN FLORIDA’S MODERN HISTORY, AND REPUBLICANS HAVE EFFECTIVELY BANNED ABORTION – ALL WHILE IGNORING THE SKYROCKETING COSTS OF LIVING, HOUSING, AND HEALTHCARE. THIS LEGISLATURE IS BROKEN AND WE NEED A NEW ONE.”

- Joe Saunders

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR FLORIDA STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE 2024

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LOCATIONS IN SOUTH FLORIDA

FORT LAUDERDALE

315 SE 14th St. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (754) 701-6920

PLANTATION

4101 NW 3rd Court, # 9 Plantation, Fl 33317 (754) 701-6911

LAKE WORTH

201 N Dixie Hwy. Lake Worth, FL 33460 (561) 867-9991

SOUTH BEACH

427 Washington Ave. Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 514-0813

MIAMI GARDENS

18360 NW 47th Ave. Miami, FL 33055 (786) 800-5631

OAKLAND PARK

1421 E. Oakland Park Blvd. #101 Oakland Park, FL 33334 (941) 366-0134

DR. MICHAEL SENSION

DR. AMY WECKER

PRINCIPAL FIRED OVER DAVID STATUE LAUDED IN ITALY WITH TRIP, AWARD

Christiana Lilly

The story of a principal who was fired after showing students a photo of the statue of David appears to have a happy ending.

Hope Carrasquilla, who was forced to resign when she showed the naked statue to sixth graders, was invited to Florence by the director of the Galleria dell’Accademia to see the famous sculpture in person, NPR reports.

“David was magnificent in person,” Carrasquilla told NPR. “All students should study the Renaissance, not only the art but the history as well.”

During her visit to Italy, she also received an award from the city of Florence. In a tweet, Mayor Dario Nardella said, “Well we promised to invite you to #Firenze and today you will be in Palazzo Vecchio to tell us that art has absolutely nothing to do with pornography.”

Carrasquilla, who was the principal at the Tallahassee Classical School, was forced to resign in March after three parents complained that she showed “pornographic”

ANTI-‘GROOMING’ TEXAS REP ACCUSED OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT WITH 19-YEAR-OLD INTERN

Kim Swan

Following a sexual misconduct allegation, North Texas Rep. Bryan Slaton resigned May 8 before an expulsion vote that will remove him from the Texas House, which will go forward, regardless.

material to students during a lesson on Renaissance art. There was supposed to be a letter of consent sent to parents, but due to “miscommunication,” it did not happen. She was given the choice to resign or be terminated.

The story went viral, even making Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” skit, and the school’s board chair stood his ground.

“Parental rights trump everything else,” Barney Bishop told the Huffington Post. “They didn’t like the woke indoctrination that was going on. We don’t use pronouns. We don’t teach CRT and we don’t ever mention 1619, those are not appropriate subjects for our kids.”

NEBRASKA SEN. KEEPS FILIBUSTER PROMISE UNTIL ANTI-TRANS BILL IS DROPPED

Kim Swan

State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh promised to hold every bill hostage in Nebraska until her colleagues agreed to drop an anti-trans bill, and she’s making good on her word.

“I will burn the session to the ground over this bill,” Cavanaugh said at the time, according to the Associated Press.

The bill was LB 547, which would block gender-affirming healthcare for young people in Nebraska. Since it hasn’t been dropped yet, she has been blocking every bill introduced, including one that would have increased state senator salaries, according to the Guardian.

She’s sticking to her plan because she feels she “has no other choice.”

“It targets a vulnerable minority population in such a vicious manner as to deny them access to lifesaving healthcare,”

Cavanaugh told the outlet. “They are targeting children. I don’t view it as an option to do anything other than fight against it. That’s my job as an elected official.”

One of the newer bills that she blocked

was a six-week abortion ban in Nebraska. Realizing this, the Republican co-sponsor of the six-week ban also withdrew support from his own bill, effectively tanking it. The bill ultimately failed to pass by one vote. What happens on LB 574 next is unknown. In April, Republicans in Omaha agreed to compromise on the bill, but nothing has happened since then. No compromise amendment has been submitted, but Cavanaugh’s colleagues now have less than 17 days left to try to pass LB 574 if they choose to.

According to NBCDFW, Slaton, 45, is accused of sexual misconduct with a 19-yearold aide and providing her with “a lot of alcohol” that made her feel “really dizzy.” He labeled himself as a Christian Conservative Republican on his Twitter account.

The Texas House Committee on General Investigating unanimously recommended Slaton be expelled from the Texas House due to "grave and serious"; behavior in an 18-page report on May 6. They found him to be in violation of the House rules by engaging in inappropriate workplace conduct, including sexual harassment and retaliation.

Although Slaton hasn’t issued a statement yet, he did send a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott announcing his resignation, NBCDFW reported. He said it was an “honor” to

represent the district and is looking forward to spending time with his family. He made no reference to the allegation.

According to NBC News, neither Slaton nor his lawyer have responded to requests for comment. The attorney previously said the allegations against Slaton, which came from three female staffers who were between the ages of 19 and 21, were”outrageous” and “false.”

Slaton has a tweet pinned to the top of his profile highlighting legislation filed this session targeting drag shows, citing the need to “protect children from sexual exploitation.”

MISSOURI AG’S ANTI-TRANS RULE SUSPENDED

Kim Swan

Ajudge in Missouri extended her restraining order on a ruling that would require adults and children to undergo more than a year of therapy and fulfill other requirements before they could receive gender-affirming treatments.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey brought forth the ruling, wanting to implement it starting April 27, but a lawsuit was filed on behalf of trans people, according to ABC News. However, St. Louis County Judge Ellen Ribaudo granted a temporary restraining order and originally scheduled a May 11 hearing on the lawsuit.

The ruling would require people to have experienced an “intense pattern” of documented gender dysphoria for three years and to have received at least 15 hourly sessions with a therapist over at least 18 months before they could receive treatment. Prospective patients also would be required to be screened for autism, and any psychiatric symptoms from mental health issues would have to be treated and resolved.

Minors, but not adults, also would have

Attorney

before treatments could begin.

Legal experts and advocates say that if this rule is enforced, it would make Missouri the first state to restrict gender-affirming care for adults and the first to enact such restrictions through emergency rule-making instead of through a new law.

Dr. Colleen McNicholas, chief medical officer at Planned Parenthoo d of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, said the language in the ruling as written constitutes a ban, according to PBS.

General Andrew Bailey. Photo via Facebook. to be screened for “social media addiction”

North Texas Rep. Bryan Slaton.

Photo via wikipedia.org.

Hope Carrasquillo, in red, shakes the hand of Florence Mayor Dario Nardella. Photo via Dario Nardella, Twitter.

State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh.

Photo via Nebraska Democratic Party, Facebook.

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IN MEMORIAM TRIBUTE

JIM STEPP, LIFELONG PHILANTHROPIST, DIES AT 85

Christiana Lilly

The South Florida LGBT charitable community is mourning the loss of one of its biggest advocates.

Jim Stepp, who spent his life giving back to causes advancing the rights of LGBT people, died May 4 at 85.

His husband, Peter Zimmer, shared that Stepp died while in hospice at Holy Cross Hospital after a short illness. There will be no funeral, no memorial, and no flowers, he said in the announcement — he only asked that loved ones donate to their favorite LGBT charity.

For David Jobin, the president and CEO of the Our Fund Foundation, the announcement was exactly what he would expect from the couple — “Understated. Modest. Thoughtful. Jim and Peter are the best of humanity.”

Stepp was a founding board member of the Our Fund Foundation in Wilton Manors, an organization that since 2010 has supported philanthropy giving to LGBT organizations locally and across the country. Each year, it gives more than $1,500,000 to nonprofit agencies. In honor of the late Norm Kent, the co-founder of SFGN, the organization founded a journalism fund.

In February 2019, Stepp and Zimmer were

the inaugural recipients of the Raising the Bar Award, also known as the South Florida LGBTQ Philanthropist of the Year, hosted by the Our Fund Foundation. Jobin told SFGN that it was obvious that the couple should win the award, but he also knew they would be too humble to accept it. It took a little convincing that they were the right people to set the standard for the award for years to come.

“They’re just the most modest, unassuming men in the world,” he said. “I worked so hard to convince them … They’re that important to the community and they did it with such grace and dignity and modesty. He will be missed so much. But Peter will carry on that legacy; Peter is a force as well.”

The couple also donated to the Florida AIDS Walk, and in 2011 made a donation from their trust to Stonewall National Museum & Archives. The two were also Platinum Level members of the Pride Center’s Founders Circle and Equality Florida’s Legacy of Equality Society. But Stepp and Zimmer’s days of philanthropy stretched beyond his days in South Florida. While living in New York City, they were also early supporters of SAGE and Lambda Legal.

“They have had an impact on LGBTQ lives for decades,” Scott Bennett, board chair for the Our Fund Foundation, said in a statement.

Jobin added, “Jim’s quick smile along with his quiet Oklahoman steadfastness will be sorely missed by all who knew him and loved him.”

SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS.COM

Peter Zimmer and Jim Stepp.

Photo courtesy of Our Fund Foundation.

“THEY’RE JUST THE MOST MODEST, UNASSUMING MEN IN THE WORLD. I WORKED SO HARD TO CONVINCE THEM … THEY’RE THAT IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY DID IT WITH SUCH GRACE AND DIGNITY AND MODESTY. HE WILL BE MISSED SO MUCH. BUT PETER WILL CARRY ON THAT LEGACY; PETER IS A FORCE AS WELL.”

- David Jobin

PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE OUR FUND FOUNDATION

SPEAK FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALL

Congratulations. Best reporting and issue covers in a while, especially the OP-ED’s and guest columns. Very challenging pieces during critical times for our LGBT community.

Wayne Besen and TWO are taking the gloves off and challenging our community leaders to set aside selfinterest and do their jobs to fight the bigotry of the DeSantis administration. One march is not enough. The fight

for freedom involves well- ordered priorities, sacrifice, and boldness.

One cannot read these articles without hearing a call to action. Resist! Speak Out! Advocate for The Rights of All!

You and your staff did very well with this issue. Looking forward for more inspiring and educational issues.

Sincerely,

Thomas Severino

Photo via Pixabay.

OPINION

TELLING THE WORLD ABOUT MY MENTAL DISORDERS

Leslie Robinson

Over the years, coming out as a lesbian hasn’t been that hard for me — because I was always too busy hiding something else.

Confessing queerness can be a breeze compared to revealing mental illness.

But I decline to play this game of hide-theworse-stigma any longer. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and a fitting time for me to acknowledge I’m now so out as a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and hoarding disorder (HD) that my closet is as empty as Rep. George Santos’ conscience.

Which is a weird sensation, after decades of keeping mostly mum about my conditions. Occasionally I ask myself whether there isn’t something else I’m still hiding, something embarrassing nestled among the hangers and dust bunnies.

Nope, there’s nothing. But it’s not a surprise I ask. I’m checking, which is the primary manifestation of my OCD. I can doubt anything: whether I locked my car door, or spelled a name in a story correctly, or said something stupid in public. This results in a need, a compulsion, to check once, twice, 50 times.

OCD is known as the Doubting Disease. HD used to be considered part of OCD, but is now officially its own condition, the big show-off. As a hoarder, I find it incredibly hard to part with a lot of items. I’m especially compelled to keep old letters, books, newspapers. I’m the princess of paper, the sultan of stuff, the collector of crap.

These two disorders, combined with depression, made for rough decades. My journalism career fizzled; my personal life was a study in frustration. I reached a point where I wanted to explain to my family and friends why I lived a stagnant existence, and the only way I knew to do that was to write a memoir about living under the thumb of OCD and HD.

I’m sure entire planets were created in the time it took me to get the book done. What was I thinking? I’d set myself a Catch-22 of a situation: trying to write about how hard it is for me to write. I must’ve been crazy.

Oh, right.

Anyway, I laid out in print the baffling, humiliating nature of these illnesses as honestly as I could. Sometimes the level of vulnerability scared me, but I figured there was no point in doing this halfway. I hurled open the closet door, and if it swung back and conked me on the schnoz, so be it.

I still have moments where I can’t believe I exposed myself to that extent, but in the main I feel unburdened. No more secrets. No more hiding my truth. No more cringing with shame over a part of me that I didn’t choose. Sound familiar?

I wish I didn’t have so much LGBT company where mental illness is concerned. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults are more than twice as likely as straight adults to have a mental health condition. Transgender folks are almost four times as likely as cisgender folks to have a mental health condition.

If you didn’t suffer from depression before, reading these NAMI statistics will do the job.

But there’s hope in my story. Now that I’ve drop-kicked denial and faced my conditions, and now that I’ve gone extraordinarily public about them, I’m more willing and able to battle them. Coming out helped shed the stigma.

When May rolls into June, Mental Health Awareness Month rolls into Pride Month. The two are linked by more than the calendar. Both aim to make the world a safer place for telling the truth.

I think July is Disability Pride Month. But I’m not sure. Let me check six or seven times.

Photo via Pixabay.

For about a decade, Leslie Robinson wrote a humor column called “General Gayety” for LGBTQ publications across the nation, and she now blogs at www.generalgayety. com. “Fun With Fred: Life With OCD and Hoarding” is her humorous memoir about co-existing with a pair of brutes.

A TROPICAL TALE

Jesse Monteagudo

This story began over 70 years ago on a tropical island that was blessed with natural beauty, a dynamic multiracial population and a vibrant, AfroSpanish culture but also cursed by racial and economic tension, political corruption, and a northern neighbor that often tried to control and exploit it. It is the tale of a young man from the provinces, the 10th of 12 children, who like his older brothers, left his rural homeland to find his fortune in the island’s political and economic capital. Though he did not find his fortune he made a career in his country’s tourist industry, then in its heyday. He worked in a hotel famous as a place where a well-known northern author stayed and drank and wrote. The young man catered to visitors from the north, who sought pleasures that were forbidden back in their homeland. Some of those visitors became his friends.

After two years in the capital the young man met a young woman, 10 years his junior, who was the youngest of seven children. However, unlike the young man’s family, which lived on the island for generations, the young woman, native born, was the daughter of immigrants. Her father was a stern, imperious German architect from Bavaria and her mother was a pious, maternal Spanish housewife from the Canary Islands. Though differences in age and background and personality might have kept our two

young people apart, their love eventually solved their differences and brought them together.

This was a time of political turmoil on the island, when a brutal military officer seized power from a corrupt civilian government and when charismatic rebel leaders pushed the island to the brink of revolution. But all this did not bother our young couple, which like many others did not care much for politics. The two got married and traveled north for their honeymoon, staying in a beach front hotel on an already famous southern beach. There, I am convinced, they conceived their first child, who was destined to live most of his 70 years in that part of the world. Meanwhile, his future parents returned to the island, where they settled in a working-class neighborhood located on the outskirts of the capital. There, on May 6, 1953, the woman gave birth to the couple’s first born – a boy – at 5 a.m. So began his story, a tale of revolution, exile, and a family whose son dared to disagree with them in so many ways. His is a long story, one that I am now willing to tell

Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer and journalist. He has been an active member of South Florida's LGBT community for more than four decades and has served in various community organizations.

Photo courtesy of Jesse Monteagudo.

THIS WAS A TIME OF POLITICAL TURMOIL ON THE ISLAND, WHEN A BRUTAL MILITARY OFFICER SEIZED POWER FROM A CORRUPT CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT AND WHEN CHARISMATIC REBEL LEADERS PUSHED THE ISLAND TO THE BRINK OF REVOLUTION.

MOTHER’S DAY MATCH-UPS

Rick Karlin

Is your mother an adventurous diner or the type that considers Olive Garden too exotic?

Whatever her taste in restaurants (or lack thereof), there’s bound to be some place in the places included below that appeals to your mother.

Both locations of LOUIS BOSSI and ELIZABETTA’S will offer special dishes on Mother’s Day. They’re not on the regular menu, but if you’re in the know you can enjoy either one. The specials are: a butterflied yellowtail snapper with tomatoes, chickpeas, artichokes, garlic, chilis, and mint for $40, or duck confit eggs Benedict with toasted artisan sourdough, poached eggs, duck confit and hollandaise for $23.

Surprise mom with brunch at BURLOCK COAST AT THE RITZ-CARLTON. As a special offering, on Mother’s Day only, from noon until four, you can order the seafood tower, for $99. It serves 2-4 guests. Add the bottomless beverage package for $39 and you’ve got an elegant brunch for four for about $50 a person. The restaurant’s signature a la carte brunch will also be available.

LE COLONIAL, the new French-Vietnamese restaurant located in downtown Delray Beach, will feature Goi Ga, Vietnamese chicken and cabbage salad, for Mother’s Day lunch and dinner. The dish includes lemongrass poached chicken, grapefruit, cabbage, peanuts, crispy shallots and a sweet chili

garlic vinaigrette for $16. In addition, the full menu will be available.

THE NAKED CRAB in the B Ocean Hotel will be offering brunch from noon-3 p.m. It will include: a charcuterie table, golden beet and pear salad, burrata Caprese, an assortment of patisserie, traditional eggs Benedict an omelet station, and bacon, sausage, hash browns. The brunch is $65, with an additional $10 for bottomless Mimosas.

Gulfstream Park offers several dining options to honor Mom. TEN PALMS restaurant will be celebrating Mother’s Day with a full day of live horse racing. Guests are invited to reserve a table overlooking the track to enjoy a buffet style brunch. Tickets to the event are $65 per person. CHRISTINE LEE’S offers mouthwatering Asian-inspired dishes, and if Mom keeps Kosher, check out BISSALEH, with unique plates including Salmon Falafel served with oven-roasted eggplant and fresh tahini sauce, Pumpkin Lamb Chops with a ginger wine sauce, and a host of vegetarian options. Or, why not take Mom down to the Keys for the day (or weekend)? OCEANS EDGE will be offering a bouquet bar for guests to craft their own floral bouquets, while its YELLOWFIN BAR AND KITCHEN will offer a brunch from 11-2 p.m. with bottomless small plates and unlimited Mimosas for $75.

MAHINA AT ISLA BELLA BEACH RESORT hosts a buffet brunch with various stations of made-to-order eggs, a fresh seafood station and a carving station for $98.

SIDE DISH

Despite what we reported about the issues facing gourmet food courts a few weeks ago, look for a new one to open in downtown Hollywood in September on a historic plot of land that was once home to the Great Southern Hotel. Overlooking ArtsPark at Young Circle the new food court will be operated by SOCIETY 8 HOSPITALITY, (Sistrunk Marketplace, Park & Ocean, and Wild Thyme The Atlantic Hotel).

BRANDON’S BISTRO, which debuted in early March in a suburban strip mall across from the Pembroke Lakes Mall, serves menu standouts like braised oxtail, hominy cakes, smoked turkey legs, and shrimp and grits. On April 1, it expanded to a Wednesday through Sunday schedule and added a 9 a.m.-2 p.m. weekend brunch service.

THE SOULFUL STEEP, a new teahouse, salt

cave, and emporium, plans to open in Pompano Beach’s arty Old Town district this spring. The menu features an abundance of teas blended by local herbalists, along with vegan and gluten-free baked goods and light bites.

Local favorite BOKAMPER’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL will be knocked down to make way for a new high-end hotel along the Intracoastal in Fort Lauderdale. Not to worry though, the demolition is still a couple of years away, and BoKamper’s will open a new restaurant in the hotel. There are still a lot of details to be worked out, so no need to rush out right away, but then again, why not?

One South Florida-based chain, BURGER-FI, has bought out another local chain, ANTHONY’S COAL-FIRED PIZZAS. The takeover has led to a class-action lawsuit by Burger Fi investors. More to follow.

Photo courtsey of Burlock Coast at The Ritz-Carlton.

& SUBSTANCE MAKE EVELYN’S FORT LAUDERDALE A WINNER

Photo via The Naked Crab.

‘MY DEAR HENRY: A JEKYLL & HYDE REMIX’

Aurora Dominguez

Love “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”? Then check out “My Dear Henry” by Kalynn Bayron who wrote a remix version of it, but featuring a queer character.

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR MOST RECENT BOOK?

My most recent work, “My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix,” was inspired by the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” It’s one of my favorite gothic tales alongside “Frankenstein” and “Dracula.” I have a soft spot for gothic horror in particular and I could not pass up an opportunity to tell this story in this way. I’ve always felt like it was a story that is perfect vehicle for examining race, class, identity and all the ways those things intersect with one another.

WHAT DOES “READING WITH PRIDE” MEAN TO YOU?

For me, Reading with Pride means having the opportunity to read stories that feature the vast and varied ways that we, in the queer community, exist. It means sharing our experiences with one another so that we can foster a literary environment that is rich in empathy and compassion.

WHY DO YOU FEEL REPRESENTATION OF A VARIETY OF PEOPLE IS SO IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING BOOKS?

Reading about people who are like us helps us imagine what is possible. It can also be a tool for exploring who we are as we uncover who we will become and what we stand for. Additionally, reading about people who are not exactly like us can teach us to be more understanding, more compassionate. Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop’s landmark piece Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors speaks directly to the importance of diversity and inclusion in children’s literature and is something I return to again and again. I’d encourage everyone to read it to gain a better insight into why championing inclusive children’s literature is important.

WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOUR BOOK?

This book is historical fiction inspired by a gothic horror classic. It was vital that I kept intact the same feeling of dread and inescapable tension that is felt in the original novella. I hope that translates to the readers and I hope they enjoy the twists and turns!

LOCAL MUSICAL GROUPS WRAP UP 2023 SEASON

J.W. Arnold

SOUTH FLORIDA PRIDE WIND ENSEMBLE

The South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble, the region’s LGBT and allies concert band, concludes its 36th season with “A Night at the Pops!” on May 13 at 7 p.m. at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale.

Under the direction of Artistic Director Dan Bassett, the lighthearted program will feature a wide variety of music from the classical era to contemporary pop music, including works by George Gershwin, Barry Manilow, John Philip Sousa and the Rolling Stones.

A special highlight will be a rousing rendition of “Casey at the Bat” with narrator Brian French. Other featured performers include high school flutist Maggie Stuteville, winner of the inaugural FLoatarama Youth Pride band soloist competition, and pianist Ross Salvosa, who will perform Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor.

Tickets are $35 at BrowardCenter.org.

MASTER CHORALE OF SOUTH FLORIDA

The Master Chorale of South Florida, under the director of Artistic Director Brett Karlin, will conclude its season on May 19 at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale and May 21 at the Florida Atlantic University Theater in Boca Raton with “Light in the Shadows,” a concert to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s Disease.

The program will include popular music by John Lennon and James Taylor, inspirational songs and excerpts from works written about the disease and the experience of patients and caregivers. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.

“What we’re trying to communicate is that the Master Chorale is the voice of the community. Alzheimer’s affects Florida residents in an unbalanced way and, through unique, engaging music, we hope to raise awareness of the struggles so many face from this disease,” said Karlin when announcing the season last year.

Tickets at MasterChoraleOfSouthFlorida. org.

NOVA SINGERS

The Nova Singers, the community chorus of Nova Southeastern University, wraps up its season with “Music of the Night,” a tribute to the longest running show on Broadway, “The Phantom of the Opera,” which recently closed.

Artistic Director Chuck Stanley will conduct performances on May 19 in Pembroke Pines, May 21 in Delray Beach, and May 23 in Weston. The program will also include selections from “The Music Man,” “Oliver” and “West Side Story,” along with arrangements of familiar spirituals and folk songs and a choral tribute to the U.S. armed forces.

Advance tickets are $20 at Nova.edu/ novasingers/index.html

GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA

The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida will debut a new concert that celebrates LGBT life, love, family and pride through the timeless music from the Disney songbook in “Disney PRIDE in Concert,” June 24 and June 25 at the Parker in Fort Lauderdale.

Featuring sparkling new arrangements, curated video clips and personal testimonials from chorus members, the concert will highlight selections from “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King” and “Mary Poppins,” as well as newer Disney films like “Coco,” “Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph” and themes from the Disney theme parks.

Artistic Director Gabe Salazar said, “I am so grateful to have the opportunity to partner with Disney to bring a show to our community that aligns with our mission,” and Executive Director Mark Kent added, “Adults and children alike are going to feel inspired and welcome. We are eager for families to know that the LGBTQ+ community is filled with wonderful and loving people.”

Tickets start at $31.50 at ParkerPlayhouse. com.

Gabe Salazar will lead the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida in a Pride month tribute to the music of Disney films, one of several special springtime concerts planned by local musical organizations. Credit: Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida.

FIRST DESANTIS CAME FOR TRANSGENDER ATHLETES, AND I DIDN’T SPEAK UP because I wasn’t a Transgender Athlete.

THEN DESANTIS CAME FOR DRAG QUEENS, AND I DIDN’T SPEAK UP because I wasn’t A Drag Queen.

THEN DESANTIS CAME FOR TRANS YOUTH, AND I DIDN’T SPEAK UP because I wasn’t a young trans person.

THEN DESANTIS CAME FOR GAY MEN, BUT I DIDN’T SPEAK UP because I wasn’t A Gay MAn.

THEN DESANTIS CAME FOR BLACK HISTORY, BUT I DIDN’T SPEAK UP because I wasn’t Black.

When Will You SPEAK Up?

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